The following table shows, in thousands of lire, the value of
the special trade (including the precious metals) with the leading
countries in two years: —

Imports from

Imports from

j Exports to

Exports to

(1895)

(1896)

! (1895)

(1896)

1,000 lire

1,000 lire

1,000 lire

1,000 lire

France ....

164,101

137,263

141,167

157,599

United Kingdom .

234,703

229,990

115,682

110,577

Austria

135,045

135,174

117,308

126,029

Germany

146,779

146,672

i 175,948

166,187

Russia

103,848

118,844

12,660

12,783

Switzerland

45,962

45,307

193.607

173,161

United States and Canada

124,182

121,570

( 101,846

86,456

Turkey, Servia, Roumania

31,550

42,734

20,576

17,956

Belgium

27,562

27,923

18,527

19,005

Argentine Republic

25,638

27,431 1

35,638

57,375

Central America

2,411

5,081 1

1,121

4,913

British Possessions in Asia

59,473

66,667

19,636

25,509

Egypt

9,321

5,541

12,238

14,386

Spain and Gibraltar

11,345

9,573

11,851

12,990

Brazil ....

7,040

4,999

15,821

For the determination of Cnstonis' values, <fec., in Italy there is a permanent central
commission, comprising official members, representatives of commercia. corporations, &c.
The values recorded are those of the goods at the frontier, exclusive of import or export
duties. For imports and exports the parties interested declare the value of the goods,
their quantity, and the country of origin or destination. For imports there is recorded the
gross weight in the case of goods subject to a duty of 20 francs per quintal (8«. l^d. per
cwt.) or less; the net legal weight (i.e. with deduction of an official tare) in the case of
goods object to duty of 20 or 40 francs per quintal (S«. l^d. to 16«. 3d. per cwt.); the
actual net weight in the case of goods taxed at over 40 francs per quintal (168. 3d. per cwt.)
For exports the gross weight is usually given. Inaccurate declarations are punishable by
fine if the inaccuracies are prejudicial to the Treasury.

The trade of Italy is regarded either as general or special. The general trade compre-
hends all imports from abroad, whether intended for consumption within the kingdom or
merely for transit, and all exports to foreign countries, whether national, nationalised or
only issuing after transit. The special trade is restricted to imjiorts for consumi)tion and
exi)orts of national or nationalised merchandise. National merchandise consists of the
produce and manufactures of the kingdom, while foreign imports on which the duties have
been paid at the frontier are said to be nationalised. Transit trade denotes merchandise
merely passing through the king<1om whether directly or after having been temi)orarily
warehoused.